NEW GALLERY SPACES OPENING IN 2016

In December 2016, our fourth floor will be transformed into a new destination for historical education and innovation. During the current renovation, objects from our permanent collection are on view throughout the Museum.

Caricature: "Francis Herbert", a character composed of a palette face and easel body with printer tools for arms and boots for feet, is shown with a tiny winged Fame holding his horn backwards and Dr. Bliss on the easel. These were the fictious pseudonyms used jointly by W.C. Bryant, R.C. Sands and G.C. Verplanck as the editors of the art journal "The Talisman", 1828-30, reissued in 1833 as "Miscellanies".

Inscribed at bottom in graphite: "Mr. Francis Herbert a -- combination of the perfections of poetry painting printing / and exhibition accompanied by Fame & Dr. Bliss." Francis Herbert and Dr. Bliss were the fictious pseudonyms used jointly by W.C. Bryant, R.C. Sands and G.C. Verplanck as the editors of the art journal "The Talisman", 1828-30, reissued in 1833 as "Miscellanies". See Description

Gallery Label

This cartoon/allegory is probably meant to represent Henry William Herbert (1807-1858), alias "Frank Forester." The sketch came to the society mounted in an album of sketches and engravings by Thomas S. Cummings and various other nineteenth-century American artists.

Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.